Welsh pupils win Prestigious King’s Trust Award

A group of teenagers from Olchfa School’s Provision Class have been named as the winners of an award from The King’s Trust after overcoming personal challenges and demonstrating teamwork and community spirit through fundraising and volunteering at local homeless shelters in Wales.

The King’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. Olchfa School’s Provision Class scooped the JD Foundation Community Impact award, which recognises a group of young people who have made a positive contribution to their local community or school and have developed their own personal skills through teamwork.

“We’ve learned skills that we need to help us through adult life. We’ve also reflected and identified our strengths, building our confidence in school and the outside world. There is always hope.”

The Olchfa Provision Class provides a lifeline for students who struggle in mainstream education. With support from The King’s Trust Achieve Programme, the class creates an inclusive environment where students can thrive academically and personally.

Ashley 16 from Swansea is one of the Olchfa Provision class students.

“I was struggling with my mental health and behaviour, and I believe was on the verge of exclusion. I didn’t like attending school and I was overwhelmed after missing so much work. I felt like I was going to fail all my GCSEs.”

Ashley’s introduction to The King’s Trust came through a pastoral worker who referred her to the provision class. The programme provided an alternative learning environment where she could feel supported and develop her skills.

“Since joining the class and The King’s Trust programme, my behaviour has improved. I don’t have as many detentions or fixed-term exclusions and get on better with my teachers. I enjoy coming to school much more and am feeling hopeful for the future as I have applied to do counselling in college.”

The class full of determined and ambitious students built strong connections with local charities through fundraising, organising donation drives and volunteering at local homeless shelters, giving students the chance to help their community in practical ways.

“Not only have we completed units to gain qualifications, but we also made over 70 hampers for the domestic abuse refuge for a community impact project.”

These projects helped students gain confidence while making a real difference in their community, fostering empathy and teamwork while giving students a sense of purpose.

The Achieve programme has also introduced students to essential life skills. Ashley found the practical learning experience most important.

“I have really enjoyed The King’s Trust projects with my class as we are always learning new skills and important knowledge that we need to know like taxes and employee rights.”

The King’s Trust programme helped the Olchfa Provision Class grow in confidence and communication, with Ashley noticing a personal difference since joining the group.

“I’m doing much better and feel less stressed and anxious about school. I have hope for the future and I’m excited to begin college and start my career. I communicate better with my friends and staff in school and I’m able to explain how I’m feeling without kicking off.

“We’ve learned skills that we need to help us through adult life. We’ve also reflected on our own skills and have identified our strengths, building our confidence in school and the outside world. There is always hope.”

The Olchfa Provision Class highlights the transformative power of education and community engagement in shaping young lives making the group winners of The King’s Trust JD Foundation Community Impact Award.

Aaron Probert, JD Foundation Charity Manager said: “On behalf of everyone at the JD Foundation, I am pleased to congratulate the pupils from Olchfa School’s Provision Class for winning the JD Foundation Community Impact Award in Wales.  They showed determination to work as a team and come together to have a huge impact within their local community. They should be very proud. Well done all!”